Motorcyclists urged to be careful

RACQ CareFlight Rescue is urging motorcyclists to exercise caution after an alarming spike in the number of injured riders being airlifted in March.

Chief Executive Officer Ash van de Velde said this month 18 injured bike riders had been airlifted – averaging more than one every two days.

Eight riders were airlifted in the first nine days of March.

The emergency airlifts were performed by crews from CareFlight’s four community bases across southeast Queensland, with injured riders being transferred between medical facilities and airlifted from the scene of both on and off road crashes.

The call for caution comes as Easter approaches – a time when many riders will be out enjoying their machines.

“We’ve all seen enough destruction both on and off the roads, and ask all motorcyclists to take the time to apply a few simple but lifesaving steps to see them to their destination safely – and not in the back of our choppers,” Mr van de Velde said.

“Things like wearing protective clothing and gear, ensuring your bike’s maintenance and servicing is up to date and securing any luggage properly will help everyone safely get from point A to point B.

“For those going off-road, we strongly encourage them to ride with a friend, carry a locater device and let loved ones know when they should expect you home.

“Applying these simple steps, along with general road rules and safety, will make all the difference in their day, and quite possibly their life.”

During the 2012/13 financial year, RACQ CareFlight Rescue airlifted 136 people from the scene of motor vehicle crashes, including accidents involving motorcycles.

The service’s iconic blue and yellow helicopters are on standby 24 hours a day seven days a week, keeping a watchful eye over an area extending near a quarter of a million square kilometres south into New South Wales, north to the town of 1770 and from the Coral Sea to the Surat Basin and beyond.

THE MONTH IN REVIEW:

Saturday March 1
• The Bundaberg crew flew to Gayndah Hospital to airlift a teen injured in a motorbike crash. He was flown to Bundaberg Base Hospital in a stable condition.
• The Toowoomba crew flew to QLD Moto Park to airlift a 22-year-old man with a fractured femur after he crashed while attempting to land a jump. He was flown to the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
• The Sunshine Coast crew flew to Cooyar to airlift a motocross rider in his twenties who sustained a serious leg injury after awkwardly landing a jump. He was flown to Toowoomba Base Hospital in a stable condition.

Sunday March 2
• The Bundaberg crew flew to Happy Valley on Fraser Island to airlift a 25-year-old who injured his shoulder while riding on the island. He was flown to Hervey Bay Hospital in a stable condition.

Monday March 3
• The Gold Coast crew transferred a teenage boy who was injured in an off road motorbike crash near Beaudesert. He suffered possible spinal injuries and was flown to the Mater Children's Hospital in a stable condition

Saturday March 8
• The Toowoomba crew flew to the aid of a 45-year-old man who was knocked from his motorcycle after hitting a wallaby in the Bunya Mountains. He crashed and sustained arm and suspected head injuries and was flown to Toowoomba Base Hospital in a stable condition.

Sunday March 9
• The Toowoomba crew airlifted an injured dirt bike rider following a crash at Motocross Mountain. The 23-year-old man suffered leg and possible spinal injuries. He was flown to Toowoomba Base Hospital in a stable condition.
• The Toowoomba crew flew to the aid of an injured dirt bike rider following a crash at a private property north of the Bunya Mountains. The 41-year-old man suffered chest and possible spinal injuries. He was airlifted to Toowoomba Base Hospital in a stable condition.

Sunday March 16
• The Sunshine Coast crew airlifted a man who injured himself after losing control of his motorbike on the beach at Noosa North Shore. He suffered suspected spinal injuries and was flown to Nambour General Hospital in a stable condition.
• The Toowoomba crew flew to Conondale to airlift a 55-year-old woman who lost control of her motorbike near a bend. She veered off the road, hit a guard rail and plunged down a 20 metre embankment. She was flown to the Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital in a serious condition.

Monday March 17
• The Gold Coast crew airlifted a 29-year-old man with suspected spinal injuries who crashed his bike while attempting a jump at an Allandale property. He was flown to the Gold Coast Hospital in a stable condition.

Wednesday March 19
• The Sunshine Coast crew airlifted a man in his sixties who crashed his bike at Mount Glorious. He sustained multiple limb injuries and was flown to the Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital in a stable condition.

Thursday March 20
• The Sunshine Coast crew transferred a teenage boy with an injury to his leg following a trail bike crash at Murgon. He was airlifted to Nambour General Hospital in a stable condition.

Monday March 24
• The Toowoomba crew airlifted a 17-year-old with internal injuries following a motorbike crash. He was transferred from Toowoomba Base Hospital to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in a stable condition

Saturday March 29
• The Toowoomba crew airlifted a 36-year-old man injured at a motocross event at Killarney. The Brisbane man suffered a leg injury and was airlifted to Toowoomba Base Hospital in a stable condition.
• The Toowoomba crew airlifted a second rider injured in a crash at a motocross event at Killarney. A 16-year-old boy suffered a suspected spinal injury and was airlifted to Toowoomba Base Hospital. He travelled in a stable condition.

Sunday March 30
• The Bundaberg crew flew to Mundubbera Hospital to transfer a 19-year-old man injured in an on road motorcycle crash. He suffered a suspected spinal injury and was airlifted to Bundaberg Base Hospital in a stable condition.
• The Bundaberg crew flew to Gayndah Hospital to airlift a 15-year-old boy injured in a motocross incident. He was transferred to Bundaberg Base Hospital in a stable condition.